Sheriff’s deputies arrest would-be robber

ENCINITAS — Deputies arrested Derrick Lewis for attempted robbery and felony hit and run on Monday.

Prior to his arrest, Lewis attempted to rob a victim in the parking lot of the LA Fitness at 201 S. El Camino Real.

The victim was able to fight and free himself from Lewis. Lewis then got into his vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. A bystander, who witnessed the incident, followed Lewis’ vehicle onto Mountain Vista Drive.

As he was fleeing, Lewis collided into an uninvolved SUV at the intersection of Mountain Vista and Wandering Road. Lewis’ vehicle sustained major damage and was rendered inoperable. Per witnesses at the scene, Lewis sustained a laceration to his head during the collision and fled the scene on foot prior to the deputies’ arrival. Lewis was located shortly thereafter, hiding in the bushes on the embankment just west of the Encinitas Sheriff’s station.

Lewis was transported to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The female driver of the SUV also sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital.